Last season the Rangers were ranked 23rd in the NHL in power play percentage.

In the playoffs the Rangers only converted 13 times on 73 chances. The Rangers were 4 for 24 against the Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Yesterday, during the Rangers practice on MSG, they practiced the power play for the first time in training camp.

Rick Nash told the Daily News “especially with a shortened season, where each game means so much, you need your special teams playing really well.”

Marian Gaborik said that he was excited to see what his unit, which included Nash and Ryan Callahan down low and Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto at the points, could do “That unit should work real well…We want to make sure we bear down and use the power play to get on the board. Some goals right off the bat should give us confidence right away and carry us forward.”

John Tortorella said that they are just trying to lay down a foundation for the power play that the players can then take into games.

Brad Richards told ESPN NY that getting off to a good start would be ideal for the Rangers, “It’s gonna take some games, and hopefully we can get a good start Saturday night and get some confidence, bury a couple.”

The second unit yesterday had Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Brian Boyle down low with Marc Staal and Dan Girardi at the points.